CD20 is an important target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well as autoimmune disorders. B-cell depletion therapy using monoclonal antibodies against CD20, such as rituximab, has revolutionized the treatment of these disorders, greatly improving overall survival in patients. Here, we report the development of… (More)

Several novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies are currently in development with the aim of improving the treatment of B cell malignancies. Mutagenesis and epitope mapping studies have revealed differences between the CD20 epitopes recognized by these antibodies. Recently, X-ray crystallography studies confirmed that the Type I CD20 antibody rituximab and… (More)

PURPOSE
Anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown activity in epithelial tumors; however, agents that work by blocking the EGFR growth signal are ineffective when the oncogenic stimulus arises downstream, such as in tumors with KRAS mutations. Antibodies of the IgG1 subclass can also kill tumor cells… (More)

Purpose: Anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown activity in epithelial tumors; however, agents that work by blocking the EGFR growth signal are ineffective when the oncogenic stimulus arises downstream, such as in tumors with KRAS mutations. Antibodies of the IgG1 subclass can also kill tumor cells… (More)

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing FOXP3 are essential for the maintenance of self-tolerance and are deficient in many common autoimmune diseases. Immune tolerance is maintained in part by IL-2 and deficiencies in the IL-2 pathway cause reduced Treg function and an increased risk of autoimmunity. Recent studies expanding Tregs in vivo with low-dose IL-2… (More)

PURPOSE
CEA TCB is a novel IgG-based T-cell bispecific (TCB) antibody for the treatment of CEA-expressing solid tumors currently in phase I clinical trials (NCT02324257). Its format incorporates bivalent binding to CEA, a head-to-tail fusion of CEA- and CD3e-binding Fab domains and an engineered Fc region with completely abolished binding to FcγRs and C1q.… (More)

We have adapted an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier, the immortalized human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3), to quantitatively measure protein transcytosis. After validating the receptor-mediated transport using transferrin, the system was used to measure transcytosis rates of antibodies directed against potential brain… (More)

Dysregulated cellular apoptosis and resistance to cell death are hallmarks of neoplastic initiation and disease progression. Therefore, the development of agents that overcome apoptosis dysregulation in tumor cells is an attractive therapeutic approach. Activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway is strongly dependent on death receptor (DR)… (More)

Recombinant human IgG antibodies (hIgGs) completely devoid of binding to Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) and complement protein C1q, and thus with abolished immune effector functions, are of use for various therapeutic applications in order to reduce FcγR activation and Fc-mediated toxicity. Fc engineering approaches described to date only partially achieve this goal… (More)

Recessive congenital methaemoglobinaemia (RCM) due to NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (cytb5r) deficiency is a very rare disorder. We report on two unrelated patients (4 and 2.5 years old) with RCM type 2. Developmental delay was obvious at the age of 4 months. On follow-up, both children showed severe tetraspastic cerebral palsy, profound cognitive… (More)